Love Sees Not With Its Eyes

by Cooking Spray

Alrighty! This is essentially a Zelgadis chapter, so, fangirls, you should enjoy it ^_^ Anyway, I'm trying to get a hold of NEXT, so perhaps a Martina cameo will be in order for an upcoming chapter. . . All according to the Wills of My Supreme and Divine Superiors, aka my parents. *sigh* Being an otaku is hard when you're the only one in your whole town. Well, excepting PsychoticLoverKitty, my longtime real-world friend and an excellent writer of fluff and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Yeah, PLKitty, that was endorsement. Feel flattered.

And, I got a Xelloss/Filia doujinshi! *squeals* Very kawaii illustrations. It says it's a fan fiction with art, but it's all in Japanese and I can't read it. T_T Translations, anyone?

Run-of-the-mouth, yet again, and our chapter's long overdue. So, lo and behold, installment six!

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Act VI:

Musings of a Chimera and a Meeting with a Dragon

A battered sign reading The Cat's Eye Pub swung on rusty hinges as the blizzard raged. Amelia's predictions had proved true; with the fair weather Mother Nature had once again pulled the wool over their eyes and in came the snow, sheets upon sheets of it. And that is why our stone man was inside rather than out, because despite what the public may believe, statues do feel cold, to some extent.

He sat, solitary as usual, in the dark corner of the pub, nursing a steaming mug that appeared to be coffee. His face was masked; it was better that way. He raised the hot beverage to his lips and sipped, musing over the events of the past four days.

Las Sailoon had seemed like a logical next stop in his eternal search for his skin's cure, being the capital of white magic. There were bound to be lots of interesting leads and lores besides. However, the city had proved quite difficult to navigate, due to its design, so he'd lingered around the Pearl Shrine for a couple days, trying to scout directions. That was where Amelia came in.

Cheerful, energetic, optimistic Amelia, heir to the Sailoon crown. He hadn't been expecting to receive outright help; he was a person who liked to work alone, but under the circumstances he didn't really have much of a choice. Admittedly, he hadn't been looking forward to spending time with her, after the impression that first meeting left, but as a surprise he'd actually been able to tolerate her company. For royalty, she seemed to be the least judgmental and charitable person he'd met, and thus he kind of warmed up to the younger girl unexpectedly. It was as if she really wanted to help him. . . but that couldn't be the case, could it?

At any rate, she was probably the best tour guide any visitor could get. Her knowledge of the city was vast and wide, and it saved him a lot of trouble and time. On the downside, however, he was stuck there for another two weeks, at the very least, until that damned mirthtook was finished culturing. To be totally honest, he was a bit iffy on the whole affair, but what was he to do? If it could cure him, he'd wait any amount of time. The catch was, the odds he'd be healed weren't definite.

His sharp hearing took note as another presence entered the small pub. In his peripheral vision he glimpsed the familiar figure of a woman, with long golden-blonde tresses. Her face was shrouded from view by the hood of her heavy cloak, but he was almost certain she was that shrine maiden from the Ryuuzoku Temple.

The chimera studied her as she swept across the place, definitely standing out. She attracted the attention of the few customers as she walked up to the bartender and placed a single gold piece on the counter. The man looked at her lazily, snatching the money with his grubby fingers while cleaning a shot glass.

"Whaddaya want, miss?" he barked in his gravelly voice, pausing his duties and waiting impatiently for her to order.

The woman didn't even flinch. "Just some tea, please," she stated in a clear alto that clashed badly with the tone of the bartender.

He shot her a suspicious look, but deposited the tiny coin and turned to rustle under the counter, where he retrieved a single bag of Melda's Magic Insta-Tea and held it up for her inspection. "This alrigh' for yeh?"

"That'll be fine, yes," she answered with the same composure. The bartender grunted as he fumbled with the hot kettle, sloshing it into a tea cup and slamming it down on the counter in front of her. "There," he mumbled, inserting the measly teabag.

"Do you have any sugar? Just one lump, that'll be enough."

He shot her yet another accusatory glance, but turned around all the same and returned with a bowl of sugar cubes, which, like most else in the pub, were slightly aged and stale from too much exposure to the air.

"Thank you." She plucked one from the canister and dropped it with a plop! in her tea. By that time, most of the customers had lost interest and had gone back to their previous activities, so they didn't see her slip into the booth beside the stone man.

Zelgadis wasn't overly surprised; he'd recognized her from the time she came in the door. What he was was puzzled. Why had she come to see him, of all people, again?

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, each just sipping at their drinks. Zel, normally one to take comfort in the absence of verbal communication, became irritated with the lack of it. His sat his coffee mug down upon the slightly grimy and worn table and looked Filia straight in her Arian eyes. "So, why have you come to seek me out again?" He said it as calmly as possible.

She, too, took a departure from her drink. "I should think the answer would be obvious." He didn't respond, so she elaborated. "You came to my temple, asking for help. I am helping you. That is what a priestess does." Another sip of tea.

So, she took him seriously. Amelia was a very useful bargaining tool, he thought with a mental chuckle. "You said you were looking into a few things, and told us that we should keep searching. Which is a polite way of saying there was nothing in your power you could do for me."

"Oh, but you have me wrong, Mr. Greywords." Her eyes twinkled as they met his. "I have looked into things. You may follow me to the temple if you wish to know what I have to offer you. I believe you know the way." She said this as curtly as possible, obviously with full intention to stick behind her words.

Well, he had underestimated her. The woman was considerably more competent when not in the company of that aggravating purple-haired man. "I'll do so, then. And I owe you both my gratitude and my apologies." He cracked the familiar half-grin. "I haven't put enough of my faith in you than I have my doubt."

Filia gave him a small smile of her own. "You're much forgiven. From the sounds of it, your distrust isn't completely without reason." Both rose, the more solid of the two waiting for her to define the means of transportation.

She read him. "The snow will conceal us, so we'll fly. Besides, anyone with good sense isn't outside braving the weather." A look at her companion. "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Well then, let's go. I want to have time to show you before that darned Mazoku priest returns and bothers me again." With a suede-gloved hand, she opened the door into the frozen terrain of the streets, and they began their journey.

~*~*~*~*~

Warmth was not provided instantly as the duo of dragon and chimera entered the behemoth temple, but neither had been too afflicted by the harsh climate, as their blood allowed them a fair bit more of endurance than humans. Zelgadis was lead through the same path he was three days prior, until they reached the familiar cathedral with its holy runic inscribing. Filia halted there, standing upon one of the seven pentacles, and there began the explanation.

"After hearing your unusual tale, I was prompted to seek higher reverence to find an aid for you. Indeed, there may be earthly elements of help available, but if this. . . condition is a curse as you say, it seemed necessary to directly ask Karyuu-oh-sama." She gave him a level look before continuing that insinuated at the value of this. "Typically, when people, most often not those of my race but those who believe in the higher powers of the Gods as those there to help them in times of need, come to me for my services, I kneel and pray as I was taught in my apprenticeship at Karyuu-oh-sama's temple. As His disciple, I follow His principles and He is the God I pray to. But never in quite a long time have we directly spoken. When I pray, I always receive an answer, not necessarily His, and that is the divine advice I pass on to my clientelle." Another meaningful glance. "You are special. Karyuu-oh-sama has spoken directly to you."

He didn't feel considerably touched, but he sensed that she didn't expect him to. Religion was never an area to where Zelgadis thought he stood concretely, but he did have respect for those high above him. So he nodded in a humble way, telling her to continue.

She suddenly looked uncertain, anxiety flickering at the corners of her face. Continuing all the same, however, she began to recite, emboldened by each word. "These are the words that Karyuu-oh-sama returned to me." A deep breath, and then: "It is not our place to undo the monstrosities mortals have created. His affliction be unfortunate and difficult, and the path ahead dotted with many miseries, I forsee. But if this is what he truly desires, no obstacle shall stand in the way of his determination. The power be not of the Gods but his own, and only his own power can undo what has befallen him."

After the God's phrase had left her lips, she slowly opened her eyes and drew in a long, shaky breath, awaiting the chimera's tumultuous reaction.

Zel was in a semi-dazed state. He shouldn't have expected Karyuu-oh to point his majestic finger and turn him human. That was not the Gods' way. He probably had such power in his possession to grant his wish, but he wished to make him search himself to find the answer. Very typical of a deity to say; they never had to go any quests to obtain their power. Then again, he could see where Karyuu-oh was coming from. . . it was just the same bitter truth he'd been fed ever since he began to scout out a cure. His mind reverted to Amelia and the mirthtook. Maybe, just maybe, he hoped against hope, that they are finally the sum to this equation. . .

Filia discerned his inner battle well and offered a grim smile of compassion. "I cannot help the words He gives me, I take them and trust them because I have pledged my faith. Karyuu-oh-sama would never give advice to your plight if it wasn't true, and you are not any closer to revealing the answer you seek than you are to the meaning of life. But, perhaps, maybe it is an incentive to keep trying."

He churned out a thin nod, lost in grim realization of reality. His expectations weren't high on this particular romp, but somehow they affected him more than he had guessed. Once again, his never-ending quest looked like a pallid, nightmarish expedition of empty answers and even emptier faith. But then he was seized by a vision of Sylphiel and her mirthtook, as well as of Amelia in an attempt to cheer him, and realized he couldn't leave the only people who had ever showed him any kind of real gratitude or compassion.

"Perhaps it is," he said in repartee, a rare soft grin stretching across his face. "Perhaps it is. It's a very vacuous resolution, but I guess it's also the one I should have seen coming." Some of the anger had been wrung from his reply, and he was able to give the priestess a proper phrase of appreciation. "Thank you, Miss Ul Copt. I guess it's more scouring for me, eh?" he spoke wryly.

"That seems to be the only answer. And you're very welcome. If you don't mind my asking, where do you plan to head to next?"

"Well, at the current moment, not anywhere. Amelia-hime has lead me to a healer with a vast garden who has something that could help me, so I guess I'll be sticking around until the culturing process is done."

Another smile blossomed on the dragon maiden's face. "Ah, Amelia-hime. . . so pure and kind and charitable. She has such a good heart for helping people. Gets it from her father, I suppose. Funny, he looks so bearish and gruff, but he's really a big softy." She indulged in a girlish giggle. "They can both be a bit too enthusiastic, though. But, at least it's better than being too tyrannical, like some of the other kingdoms around here."

Before he could catch himself, Zelgadis found himself smiling fondly at her words. "Yes. . . I've noticed all of this. Amelia is. . . different, but I have to respect her for putting her trust in me. Not many would have."

Just as Filia was about to speak and possibly make Zelgadis turn redder than he ever had in his life, the purple-haired priest with the infuriating smile that he had met yesterday appeared out of thin air, putting his arm around the priestess and smiling as always, and instead she blushed. Out of embarrassment or anger he could not discern, but he saw violence coming on.

"Good afternoon, my dragon Filia! Sorry I kept you waiting for so long, I've been tied up all morning. But now we can spend the rest of the day together! Isn't that wonderful?"

Zelgadis saw her temper flare as quickly as a thermometer in August heat. "No, it is NOT wonderful!" She wrestled out of his embrace. "Don't touch me, you filthy monster!"

Slowly backing away, Zel decided now would be a good time to make his leave, rather than get caught in the crossfire of the surely approaching battle. He still hadn't figured out Filia's relationship with this weird guy, but apparently something was going on between them. Whether it was love or hate, or perhaps even both, he did not know, and most likely did not want to stick around to find out, either. He inched closer to the doorway.

Filia caught him before he was out of the door, screeching. He froze, flinching at the sound.

"No, Mr. Greywords, please! You can't leave me alone with. . . this. . . this. . . beast!"

Xelloss cocked an eyebrow. "Of course he can, Filia-san! How rude of you to yell at your customers." He patted her on the back. "If business is getting this bad, you should have said something!"

"I told you to get your hands OFF of me!" There was a resounding smacking sound.

"So abusive. . ."

"DIE, YOU!"

Zelgadis' feet had never moved more quickly out of the door of a temple in his life.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: Kind of an offbeat chapter, but so far the story has been told from Amelia's viewpoint and I wanted to get into Zelgadis' head and see what he thought of the events as well. So, in the end Filia really couldn't help, but Karyuu-oh did give her an answer, which she told Zelgadis. And now he has a lot of thinking to do and decisions to make. . .

Sorry I'm so late! I hadn't written in a while, so it took some time to get used the feel of the story again. This chapter's a bit shorter than the others, but I'm doing the best I can while working on so many other projects.

Enough overview, now. What I need to ask you all is this: I want Lina and Gourry to make an appearance, but I don't know how they should come in. I debated having them as Count and Countess, but I don't think that'd fit their character types. So, some reader suggestions? I guarantee you'll be properly awarded for your efforts! And I have plenty of Pocky, if that's any bribe, but I hear the price of shipping's gone up. . . :P

School has been pretty lenient on my ability to update, what with ISTEP testing and all considered. Still, I don't have as much time to dedicate to writing as I did. But perhaps the time frame will keep me from procrastinating. We can all hope!

I'll stop talking and let you review now. Coming up:

~*NEXT CHAPTER*~

Act VII:

Talk and More Talk